Events

Current Events

I’ve been serializing excerpts of my latest novel, The Affairess, at reading series in Chicago in 2012.

Want to schedule an event? Hop in.

Milwaukee Avenue Arts Fest: Chapter Seven “Work”
July 17, 2012

Sunday Salon: Chapter Eight “Wipeout”
June 24, 2012

Come Alive at Five: Father’s Day: Chapter Five “Superbowl”
June 14, 2012

RUI 7th Anniversary: Chapter Three “Head”
May 2, 2012

Two Cookie Minimum: Chapter Two “Caught”
May 1, 2012

Story Week Festival of Writers: Chapter One “Commute”
March 19, 2012

Ongoing Events

RUI: Reading Under the Influence

Launched in May of 2005 as a celebration showcase for MFA grads, RUI has since become one of Chicago’s longest continuously running reading series, and was voted the best reading series in 2008 and 2009 by the Chicago Reader.

A lot has happened in that time, including lineup changes, threats from the State and City Liquor Commissions, a squeeze from a photo booth and a BBQ smoker, partnerships with the Chicago Public Library, Columbia College Chicago, Printers Row Lit Fest, Jack Daniels, more book release parties than we could count, and, sadly, the death of our biggest booster and fellow writer, Ric Hess, who, as co-owner of Sheffield’s, still acts as our host. And it is still fun, dynamic, interactive, and Jameson-inspired.

On the first Wednesday of every month (except dry January), RUI bellies up to celebrate the tradition of literature and drinking. We (Jesse Jordan, Amy Guth, cofounder Julia Borcherts, and myself) invite four featured guests to perform brief original pieces, and for each to read a brief piece of published work that relates to that month’s theme (past themes have been Bondage, Chicago, Suicide, Camp, Women). The reader does a shot before the brief published reading, then asks the audience five trivia questions that range from the literary to the absurd. The four audience winners get a book and something from the bar.

It’s held in the back bar at Sheffield’s Chicago (3258 N. Sheffield) on the first Wednesday of every month, doors at 7pm, first reading at 7:30. $3 cover, 21+.

Past Events

Printers Row Lit Festival
June 2011

Printers Row Lit Festival
June 2010

Windy City Story Slam All-Star Championship at the Metro
1/24/09

Orange Alert Reading Series at the Whistler
11/18/08 with Spencer Dew, Ben Tanzer, Stephanie Kuehnert

Fixx Reading Series at The Book Cellar
10/23/08 with Ben Tanzer and Tim Hall

Literary Gangs of Chicago: RUI at the MCA
10/21/08

Printers Row Book Fair
June 8th, 2008

Tamale Hut Cafe, May 10, 2008
See promotional flyer

2nd Story, 2007
http://2ndstory.serendipitytheatre.org